Referee Memorandum

USSF Suspends FIFA Jersey Sleeves Rule

USSF has been informed by FIFA
that it has decided to temporarily set aside the new
provision regarding jersey sleeves found in International
Board Decision 1 of Law 4. Accordingly, effective immediately
and until further notice:

Referees will have no responsibility
for determining the legality of jersey sleeves or for
enforcing the provision in Law 4 related to jersey
sleeves.

Referees are directed not to include
in their game reports any information regarding the
presence, absence, or altered status of jersey sleeves
unless required to do so by the rules of competition
under which a particular game is being played.

The only concern a referee has with
respect to the condition of a player’s jersey
is safety.

Referees are, however, expected
to enforce all relevant provisions in the Rules of
Competition governing a match, meaning, if a state
association, organization, league or tournament has
a rule regarding jersey sleeves, that rule should be
enforced